Improved cab-coupling



` D. W. MILLER & M. BRESTLE, Jr.

I Car Coupling.

No. 69.464. Patented Oct. .1, 1867.

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Letters Patent No. 69,464, dated October l, 1867.

IMPROVED GAR-GOUPLING.

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TC) ALL Wl-[UM Ill MAY GONCERN:

Be it known that we, D'ANIEL WV. MILLER and MlCHAEL BRES'LLE, Jr., of Middletown, in Dauphin county, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful improvement in Car-Couplings; and we do hereby declare that thc following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, through letters of reference marked thereon, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a vcrticaklongitudinal section of two couplings combined as in use.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line :r :u of iig. 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line y of iig. 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the same line as l, but showing the couplingpin in position as if in the act of coupling.

The same letters of reference appearing in the several figures indica-te corresponding parts.

Our invention relates to that class of car-couplings termed automatic or self-coupling; and it consists in a novel construction and combination of parts, all of which are securely connected, so thatno single part is liable to be lost or misleid; it also consists in combining with the buffer or sheath of the coupling a sliding retainingblock, for the permanent connection of the coupling-link, in such manner that when said link is not in use it shall be securely lretained within the sheath, and is thus guarded against 'loss or injury.

To enable others to make and use our invention, we will proceed to describe its construction and operation by referring to the drawings, in which- A represents the box, sheath,or casing, in which all other parts are arranged and operated. This sheath 1s of rectangular form in its cross-section, as shown in fig. 3, and having its opposite sides parallel for its entire length, except the outer end or mouth part E, which is made flaring, for the more ready and sure entrance of the protruding link of another car, which will be more fully. described hereinafter. This sheath or casing, A, is provided with a short slot, a, in its upper side, and a longer one, a', in its lower side, the front ends of each being inthe same vertical plane, and immediately in rear of the Haring part of said sheath. The bolt or draughtpin B of the coupling passes vertically through these slots at their front end, and through a rocking cross-piece, b, which is supported byits trunnions at each end in ears or bearings c, which are firmly attached to the sheath, one on each side of the slot a'. The length of these slots rearward is suiiicicnt to allow the pin B to swing, as represented in fig. 4, to such an angle as will allow the end of the link of another coupling to pass under its point, when it will immediately fall, passing through the link and resuming the position represented in g. 1. Within the sheath A is fitted a block, vC, which is capable of motion longitudinally therein from one end to the other, and is provided with a drop-bolt, c, for securing it in its forward position by dropping into the slotrt, whilst thc forward end has projections n1. at the upper and lower sides, which, one or both, abut against lipsfat the mouth of the sheath, and are thus retained in position. To this block C the link Gr is secured, by'a pin, d, passing vertically through them, and which is a permanent retainer of the link. 0n the face of theblock'I C, between and parallel with thc projections m, are one or more projections, n, extending only such a distance forward as will leave space between their front cndsnnd the pin d sufficient to admit of the'link being` raised or lower-cd between them.V These projections, n, forni spaces o'between them and the projections m sufficiently wide vertically to admit Vthe end of the link G, and are slightly inclined downward to the rear, so that when the link is pushed back into either of them it will he held in a horizontal position.

When thc-coupling is out of' use the drop-bolt e is to he pushed up from the slot a, and the block @slipped back until theouter end of the link Gr drops in rear of the lip j', hy which it is retained out of harms way, and not being detachable is always in place ready for use.

It will be apparent that this coupling maybe used in connection with another of the same kind, or with 'any other ylink-coupling, its manipulation boing as follows: Suppose two couplings of this same kind are to he connected, the link of one will be left in the position represented at vD, and that of the other pulled forward until the bolt e secures the lock e in its forward position, the rear end of the link being placed in one of thc spaces 0, higher or lower, and thereby retained in a horizontal position corresponding with the height of the coupling to which it is to be connected, or for coupling with avery low car it may be left to hang loose, when it will droop to a considerable angle. lIhis being arranged the cars are run together, when the projecting link will enter the mouth of the other coupling, pushing back the pin B until its point falls through the link and thus secures the connection. When it is'desired to detzieh them, the link Gi'bcing inthe slightest degree sleek,

the pin 13d-may be withdrawn in e vertical direction through the rocking cross-head b until the point is clear o? the link, but it 'is prevented from being withdrawn entirely by its lower end beingvsligh'tly enlarged` 1 If desirable spring-bumpers may be attached to the rear end of the coupling, as represented zit I, iig. l,

or in any suitable manner.

Having thus deseribed our invention, what we claim ils new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is fr 1. The sliding bleek C, provided with pin or bolt a, and constructed with recesses o, (one or more,) when l said recesses :tre arranged et an angle to the horizontal plane, substantially :is and for the purposes set forth, 2. The sliding block C and its pin d, combined with the link G and sheaith A, all constructed,arranged,

and operating substantially as herein set forth.

DAN L W. MILLER, MICHAEL BRESTLE, JR.

Witnesses:

H. O. ELLIOT", SIDNEY E. SMITH. 

